On May 1, 2017, nearly 150 people gathered at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle for a rally they titled “Stand Against Communism”. The rally, hosted by Vancouver, Washington group Patriot Prayer, was meant to serve as a counterpoint to planned leftist demonstrations also being held in Seattle on that day (namely, the 18th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights which was held concurrently). According to a statement put out by Patriot Prayer, their rally was intended to show “support for the Police, Trump, Freedom, and America” on a day (May Day) that has “traditionally [been] a day that Communist and Antifa [Anti-Fascists] run wild through downtown Seattle”. They also encouraged supporters to bring thin blue line, American, and Trump flags. After the speeches commenced, the group marched briefly through the Belltown and Downtown Business District neighborhoods before returning to Westlake Center. After the march, numerous small scuffles occurred between Patriot Prayer protestors and groups of anarchists and anti-fascists.